Salvia plant named &#39;DSALDPOCN&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘DSALDPOCN’ is disclosed, characterized by early flowering of deep blue flowers, very full and mounded habit. Additionally all the flowers are at the same height. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Salvia farinacea

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DSALDPOCN’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar is the product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Salviavarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollinationresulting in this new variety was made during 2010.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asSalvia ‘SAF-9-971’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an openpollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in June of2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2010open pollination, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativeapical cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in July of 2011 and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to typein multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DSALDPOCN’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DSALDPOCN’ as a new and distinct Salviacultivar:

1. Very full and mounded plant habit.

2. Early flowering.

3. Deep blue flower color.

4. Flowers occurring at the same height.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Salvia ‘SAF-9-971’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ differ in the following;

1. Deep blue flowers. The seed parent has white flowers.

2. The new variety blooms earlier.

3. The new variety produces more flowers.

4. Shorter peduncles.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Salvia ‘SALLYFUN BLUE EMOTION’. The two Salviavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘DSALDPOCN’ differs in the following:

1. The new variety has a more compact plant habit.

2. The new variety has a more full plant habit.

3. The new variety does not have noticeable white eyes on the flower, asthe comparator.

4. The new variety has shorter peduncles.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ can also be comparable to theunpatented commercial variety Salvia ‘SALLYFUN BICOLOR BEAUTY’. The twoSalvia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, the new variety ‘DSALDPOCN’ differs in the following:

1. The new variety has lower petal and upper petals the same shade ofblue, whereas comparator has 2 different colors—the lower petal inshades of light blue and the upper in darker blue.

2. More compact and mounded habit. The comparator habit is morespreading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DSALDPOCN’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Ageof the plant photographed is approximately 15 weeks from a rootedcutting. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers and foliage. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DSALDPOCN’ plants grown in the Autumn, toSpring in moderate climate in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 30° C. during theday and from 16° C. to 25° C. during the night. General light conditionsare bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia farinacea ‘DSALDPOCN’-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—vegetative cutting.        -   Time to initiate roots.—5-7 days at approximately 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 10-14 days at 25° C.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 15 weeks.        -   Container size of the plant described.—13 cm.        -   Overall plant shape or growth habit.—Mounded.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 30 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—About 20-25.        -   Branch color.—Yellow-green group 144A RHS.        -   Branch texture/pubescence.—Pulverulent, slightly ribbed            longwise.        -   Internode length.—Approximate average 2 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Quantity: Approximately 20 per            main branch. Average Length: Approximately 8 cm. Average            Width: Approximately 3 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate Apex:            Broadly acute Base: Pointed Attachment: Petiolate Margin:            Very slightly crenate Texture of top surface: Smooth,            slightly glossy, sporadically canescent. Texture of bottom            surface: Smooth, matte, sporadically canescent. Color: Young            foliage upper side: Near Yellow-green 146B RHS Young foliage            under side: Near Yellow-green 146A RHS Mature foliage upper            side: Near Yellow-green 147A RHS Mature foliage under side:            Near Yellow-green 147A RHS Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation            color upper side: Near Yellow-green group 146B RHS Venation            color under side: Near Yellow-green group 146C RHS Petiole:            Average Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near Yellow-green group 144B            RHS.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—From early spring to late autumn            in moderate climate.        -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Bilabiate flowers arranged in            vertical clusters on spike, upright.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—about 3 to 5 days, depending on            temperature.        -   Quantity of flowers.—About 10-15 blooming spikes per plant.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm. Height:            Approximately 18 cm. Flowers and buds per inflorescence:            Average range 60 to 90.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 15-18 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm Texture:            Pulverulent, slightly ribbed longwise Color: Near            Violet-Blue group N92C RHS Orientation: About 30° from            vertical Strength: Strong Petal arrangement: The corolla is            sympetalous and typically bilabiate with 2 small, highly            fused lobes forming an upper lip and 3 larger highly fused            lobes forming a lower lip.        -   Individual flowers.—Size: Upper lip (tube like) Diameter:            Approximately 0.3 cm. Length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Lower            lip (4 fused lobe) Length: Approximately 1 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Persistence: Non-persistent.            Fragrance: Very sweet, nectar-like fragrance.        -   Petals.—One upper lip and one lower lip with 4 lobes. Lips            are fused at base. Upper lip has smooth short feather like            hairs, lower lip is smooth and hairless.        -   Margin.—Slightly wavy Tip shape: Upper lip: Rounded Lower            lip: Blunt Length: Upper lip: 0.5 cm Lower lip: 1 cm Tube:            0.5 cm Width: Upper lip: 0.3 cm Lower lip: 1 cm Tube: 0.3 cm            Texture: Upper lip: Upper surface: Smooth, short feather            like hairs; Under surface: Glabrous Lower lip: Upper            surface: Glabrous; under surface: Glabrous. Tube: Upper            surface: Glabrous; under surface: Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper Lip: When opening: Inner surface: Near            Violet-Blue group 93A RHS Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue            group N92B RHS Fully opened: Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue            group 93A RHS Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS            Fading: Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93C RHS Outer            surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93B RHS Color: Lower Lip:            When opening: Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS            Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group N92B RHS Fully opened:            Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93C RHS Outer surface:            Near Violet-Blue group 93B RHS Aging: Inner surface: Near            Violet-Blue group 93D RHS Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue            group 93C RHS.        -   Color.—Tube: When opening: Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue            group 91D RHS Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group 91A RHS            Fully opened: Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 92A RHS            Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group 92C RHS Fading: Inner            surface: Near Violet-Blue group 91D RHS Outer surface: Near            Violet-Blue group 94B RHS.        -   Bud.—Shape: Ovoid Length: 0.5 CM Diameter: 0.2 CM Color:            Near Violet—Blue group 93A RHS.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Quantity per flower: 2 lobes fused in base to            form a tub Length: Approximately 0.6 cm Width: Approximately            0.3 cm Margin: Flat Texture: Velvety, with rough lines            longwise, pulverulent Color: Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 2 Filament length: Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Obvuate Length: Approximately 0.1 CM Color:            Near Greyed-Purple group N187 RHS Pollen: Color: Near Yellow            group 14A RHS Quantity: Medium.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Approximately 1.2 cm Style:            Length: Approximately 1 cm Color: Near Violet group 85D RHS.        -   Stigma.—Shape: V shape with one side longer than the other            Color: Near Violet group 85B RHS.        -   Ovary color.—Near Green-Yellow group 1D RHS.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—1-4 seeds per flower, ovoid shape. Dark            Grey-Brown in color, not accurately measured with R.H.S.            chart.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Salvia            farinacea has been observed. Pests which can be found in            Salvia include aphids and thrips. Typical diseases are            Peronospora lamii and Erysiphe cichoracearum.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘DSALDPOCN’ as herein illustrated and described.